the knowledge of God 1. Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly But what wee are taught and commanded to begge in prayer wee are allowed to belieue that we shall obtaine it of free grace The faithfull haue relied vpon God for grace and abilitie to walke in his wayes and to finish the worke wherevnâ—o they were ordained Ph. 1.20 2. Tim. 4.18 Ph. 4.13 But all the faithfull as faithfull be partners in the same promises and priuiledges and liue by the same faith Wee are commanded to cast off the old man which is corrupt Ephes 4.21 22 23 24. with the affections and lusts and to put on the New man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse But in the couenant of Grace God giueth what he requireth Mans dutie is his free gift of grace It is necessarie to belieue God will sanctifie our nature and enable to holinesse It is necessary a Christian should belieue that God will sanctifie his nature and inable him to those duties of holinesse and righteousnesse that he requires For Iustification and Sanctification bee indiuiduall whom God doth acquit from the guilt of sinne and accept as righteous vnto life through Iesus Christ Rom. 8.1 2. 1. Cor. 1.30 them he doth sanctifie by his Spirit to walke before him in newnesse of life Christ himselfe cannot be diuided nor the participation of his benefits If by communion in his death we be deliuered from the curse and malediction of the Law by the power of his Resurrection we are raised vp to liue vnto God If Christians be not perswaded that God will mortifie their corrupt affections and build them forward in holinesse they shall very much stagger coldly set vpon the practice of Christianitie be off an on vnstayed often fainting at the difficultie of the worke dismayed at their manifold slips strong corruptions and little preuailings against them Our owne strength is too weake for the worke of holinesse as to defeat the policies of Satan to represse and vanquish the lusts of our rebellious hearts allurements of the world much more to change and cleanse our hearts which are by nature and custome in sinne so deeply polluted If wee haue not faith to belieue that God will aide assist and blesse vs in our endeuours yea and doe the whole worke for vs what courage can we haue to goe about it What successe are we like to find in it What shamefull foyles and repulses shall we sustaine But setlednesse in this that God will perfect his worke begun causeth men to goe about the practice of mortification with much readinesse chearefulnesse ease stayednesse and happie speed Hee will fight maâ—fully against his lusts and continue in the combate against them who is assured of victorie from God in the end It is a great heartning to resist euill or to doe any good dutie when we belieue God will bee with vs in the one and in the other to giue vs helpe against our enemies and to inable vs vnto the worke and that worke must needs prosper that God will forward and succeed well that hee will bring to perfâ—ction The promises of God concerning spirituall blessings are so lâ—nked together that whosoeuer belieueth not euery one aright hee cannot belieue any one stedfastly as hee ought He shall many times be in doubt of the remission of his sinnes and in feare of falling away who hath not learned to rest vpon God for the grace of sanctification no lesse then for the pardon of his offences for the certaintie of both these is like if it be well considered The acts of faith about the promises of sanctification The acts of Faith concerning these promises bee these and such like First It acquaints a man with his emptinesse of grace the strength of his inbred corruptions how deepe they haue eaten how fast they sticke how vnable he is to crucifie his inordinate affections or to repaire the decayed Image of God in him and that be is in wofull case vnlesse the Lord put to his helping hand Faith in this act doth not properly worke vpon the promise but prepares the heart thereunto And sure it is a worthy lesson for the serious thought of this matter is exceeding forcible to abase and humble him in his owne eyes and so wholly to driue him out of himselfe For hee perceiueth hee is as strongly bound by the tyrannie of sinne to perpetuall slauerie as by the guilt of sinne to the danger of condemnation Could he get pardon for sinne what would this profit so as hee lieth still vnder the power and dominion of sinne from which hee hath no abilitie to deliuer his soule If a man labour of some painfull loathsome incurable disease though in many things hee bee aduanced this will pull downe conceits of greatnesse and when a Christian comes to see how many dangerous noysome spirituall diseases he laboureth vnder he is not lightly affected with it no he abhorreth himselfe and crieth out Rom 7 24. O miserable wretch that I am who shall deliuer me from this body of death how shall I bee cured of these maladies Hereby also he is drawne in all his purposes and râ—solutions to denie himselfe and to relie vpon the power of the Lord who only remaynes victorious Hee purposeth but through the might of God which causeth earnest and heartie prayer to bee strengthened vnto and established in that which is good I will keepe thy statutes Psal 119.8 O forsake mee not vtterly I haue stucke vnto thy Testimonies O Lord put me not to shame Psal 119.32 33. I will runne the way of thy Commandements when thou shalt enlarge my heart Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keepe it vnto the end Verse 34. Giue mee vnderstanding and I shall keepe thy Law yea I will obserue it with my whole heart Make me to goe in the path of thy Commandements for therein doe I delight Incline my heart to thy testimonies Verse 35. Psal 17.5 and not to couetousnesse Hold vp my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Purposes thus grounded bring forth holy performances but when they are taken vp without consideration of our frailtie and we relie not vpon Christ for his grace and assistance they quickly vanish and come to nothing In the time of sicknesse danger disgrace we make faire promises to amend what is amisse and reforme things out of order but when the rod is remoued shortly all is cleane forgotten What may be the reason We stand vpon our owne feet presume to goe alone of our selues by our owne strength and then no maruell if we fall and catch many a knocke Secondly It sheweth where the strength is to bee had which we want and stirres vp to a conscionable diligent and constant vse of the meanes of grace that God hath ordained but lookes vp to him for a blessing and resteth not in the meanes Faith
They are spots in the feasts of Charitie Inde verse 12. Matth. 24.38 â—9 who feed without feare Eating drinking building matter of marriage the world shall be drowned in these when Christ comes to Iudgement How many times doe the best offend in lawfull things The pleasure we take in these things Iob 1.5 how insensibly doth it steale the heart away from spiâ—ituall delights how doth it indispose the frame of the soule to heauenly exercises how doth it cherish wrath Prou. 23.1 2 3. and foster vnbridled passions Daintie meates are very dangerous and deceitfull for the sensible delight they giue whereby the appetite is inordinately moued after them doth presse downe the soule that it cannot mount aloft in spirituall contemplation These euils faith doth wisely foresee and watch to preuent Sixtly It lifteth vp the soule in thankesgiuing Our Sauiour blessed the Table as well by praising God for his mercie Deut. 8.10 1 Tim. 4 4 as by prayer for a blessing The creatures are not ours but the Lords we must not meddle with them before wee haue craued leaue and when we haue made vse of them for supply of our necessitie we must not forget to returne praise If men borrow ought of their neighbour when they bring it home they forget not to giue thankes Great is the misery of man if hee want these outward comforts and the greater our miserie without them the more â—ncomprehensible is the Lords mercie in supplying our nâ—cessitie The prouidence of God in ministr ng daily food is no lesse wonderfull then was his feedâ—ng of Israel in the wildernesse with Mâ—nna and Quailes from Heauen for as we are not fed as they were so â—re we preserued from their necessitie That the earth should yeeld her increase for our daly sustenance so as wee feele no extremitie is it not as great a blessing as to bee supplied from Heauen when we are brought into distresse who would not chuse rather neuer to be sicke then to recouer by miracle what man would noâ— rather enioy the constant benefit of eye-sight then to bee restored after long blindnesse Besides they bee not simply fauours which for the present sustaine nature but they are some small pittance of our childs portion pawnes of our heauenly inheritance which doth adde much vnto their sweetnesse If friends be absent a letter a token serues much to maintaine loue and kindnesse now these be some of those loue-tokens which our heauenly Father sendeth vnto vs that he might draw our loue vnto him Seuenthly Faith is frugall compassionate industrious After wee haue beene refreshed it suffers not the meate which remâ—ineth to be lost but reserueth it for good vse At greater feasts it is mindfuâ—l of the poore Iohn 6.12 Amos 6.6 Esay 5.12 at ordinarie meales it remembers the affliction of Ioseph regardeth the worke of the Lord and consiâ—ereth the operation of his hâ—nds For the mercies of God receiued by faith doe leaue an imp ession of his mercie vpon the soule and so our compassion towards others is increased as the mercies of God are multiplied vpon vs. Daily refreshing renueth the continuall remembrance of our infirmities and begetteh a liuely sense of the miseries oâ— them that want and stand in neede And when vigour of Mâ—nde anâ— body is repaired it setteth vs about the worke and businesse whereunto wee are â—ppointed of God God giues none food to liue idle Men looke for work from them to whom they giue meate drinke and wages and shall not wee labour in the work of God who liue daily on his allowance CHAP. IX What it is to liue by faith touching the Commandements which God hath giuen for direction of our liues according to which wee ought to walke IN the word of grace the Lord calleth for vniuersall voluntarie sincere vniforme constant obedience and promiseth both to â—nable his Children to doe what is pleasing and to accept of their willing though weake seruice The first of these branches is apparent and well knowne to them thâ—t be any whit exercised in the word the second hath beene proued at large alreadie neuerthelesse that weake Christians might haue in readinesse some grounds of faith in these particulars it will not be sâ—perfluous to point to some passages of Scripture where they may see them confirmed The Lord calls for willing chearefull vniuersall vnfained constant obedience Gen. 17.1 Exod. 19.5 That Christians are bound to serue God willingly and cheerefully without constraint vniuersally in holines and righteousnes vnfainedly as in his sight al the dayes of their life constantly in all estates vnto the end these few texts may be sufficient to pâ—oue I am the Almighty God walke before me and be thou perfect If yee will obey my voyce indeede and keepe my couenant then yee shall be a peculiar treasure vnto mee aboue all people Deut. 5.29 and 6.2 O that there were such an heart in them that they would feare me and keepe my commandements alwayes that it might bee well with them Deut. 6.17 and with their Children for euer You shall diligently keepe the Commandements of the Lord your God â—f thou shalt hearken diligently vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God Deut. 28.1 to â—bseruâ— and to doe all his Commandements which I commaund thee this day the Lord thy God will set thee on high aboue all the nations of the earth Take diligent heede to doe the commaundement and the lâ—w which Moses the seruant of the Lord charged you Josh 22.5 and 23.8 24.14 1 Chro. 28.9 to loue the Lord your God and to walke in all his wayes and to keâ—pe his Commandements and to cleaue vnto him and to serue him with all your heart and withall your soule Blessed are they that keepe iudgement Psal 106.3 and he that doth iustice at all times To this end are we deliuered out of the hâ—nds of our enemies Luk. 1.74.75 that we might serue him without feare in holinâ—sse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes our life Pro 23.17 Be thou in the feare of the Lord all the day long And looke what seruice the Lord doth expect and call for Psal 25.12 that he will enable his people in couenant to performe What man is he that feareth the Lord him will he teach in the way that he shall chuse Deut. 30.6 The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to the loue Lord thy God with all thy heart and withall thy soule that thou maist liue Verse 8. Ieremi 24.7 And thou shalt returne and obey the voyce of the Lord and doe all his commandements which I commaund thee this day And I will giue them an heart to know mee that I am the Lord Ezek. 11.19 and they shall be my people and I will be their God for they shall returne vnto me with their whole heart And I will put a new Spirit within you and I will
can firmely vnite vs vnto Christ whereby likewisâ— were it firme it selfe wee should assent vnto euery precept of God as much better then any incompatible good That act cannot please God which is not animated by faith for it is but the naked carkese of a good worke without life or soule if that be wanting It is faith which impelleth to worke righteousnesse and putteth life and vigour into the worke wrought so that the best workes of the regenerate bee dull and liuelesse if faith be dormant and put not forth it selfe for a time And when a Christian knowes not whether he shall haue strength to doe what God requireth nor whether God hath giuen him any promise that his burden shall be made light and that Christ will beare the greatest part of it for him it must needs bee very tedious and troublesome it will occasion many feares and doubts deadnesse and vnchearefulnesse This killeth the heart of right good Christians when they are ignorant or not throughly informed that God will make them able and fit for so great a worke as the leading of a godly life But if they haue this faith as a foundation to vphold them they shall sooner wade through their doubts and grow out of their feares as knowing that God will be euer with them for their assistance Who doth not know that when some certaintie of saluation is obtained yet for all that in asmuch as it is but weake they haue many heart-griefes for this that they see they haue a wearisome pilgrimage to goe thorow and little knowledge and perswasion of any great guiding of them through all the feares and difficulties of it A Christian that hath this confidence that God will strengthen him to euery good worke he shall goe about it with heart and cherefulnesse he shall be encouraged to pray as his necessitie shall giue cause he shall be kept from fainting and dismaidnes when his strength is not very great and rise vp againe when he is fallen But if he be not wel grounded in belieuing that God will build him vp more strongly from day to day perfect the good worke in him which is begunne hee shall very much stagger and goe backe If a chiefe and maine post in a building be wanting will not the whole house be soone shâ—ken so if a Christian who must reforme his life goe about it not resting vpon the grace of God in Christ to be made able hee may be sure he shall want a maine hâ—lpe hereto euen that which may shake all that is set vp Sundry true-hearted Christians very Conscionable in their conuersation be yet much discouraged by reason of the infirmities of their best duties and haue little comfort in any thing they doe because they question what accepâ—ance their poore seruice hath with God And though they desire to please him willing in all things to liue honestly Heb. 13.18 yet still looking vpon their frailties they hardly admit any comfort because they come so farre short of what is required Whereas if they were well instructed and assured of this that although by reason of their corâ—uption dwelling in them they can neuer offer vp any sacrifice to God without blemish and spot for which God might reiect all which they offer vnto him yet offering thâ—m vp in the Name of Christ they shall be accepted and rewarded this would put life and courage into them and make them performe all holy duties with more chearefulnesse and constancie to the glory of God the comfort of their soules and the good encouragement of others Confidence in God to be accepted what tedious disputes would it remoue What temptations would it cut off What discouragements would it trample vnder feet What strength vigour resolution and forwardnesse in wel-doing would it nourish and conserue The sharpest spurre to incite vnto and encourage to goe forward in the workes of holinesse is affiance of fauourable acceptation Christians are allowed to belieue that God will enable to obedience Ier. 32.39 40. Euery Christian is allowed to belieue that God will strengthen him by his grace to walke in obedience and make him able through the hearing of the Scriptuâ—es to cast off his old conuersation For God hath promised in Couenant that he will teach them the way that they shall chuse guide them with his eye and put his feare into their hearts that they shall not depart from his Commandements The Spirit of grace is promised and giuen to all true and vnfained Belieuers to lead them into all truth anâ— holinesse As many as be the children of God Rom. 8.14 they are led by the Spirit of God and the law of the Spirit of life in Iesus Christ Verse 2. hath freed them from the law of sinne anâ— death The Lord when he sendeth forth his seruants vpon any message or businesse doth euermore promise to be with them to aide and assist them in the execution of it Thus the Lord promised to Moses Goe Exod. 4.12 Math. 28.19 20 and I will be witâ— thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say Thus our Sauiour to his Disciples Loe I am with you alwayes euen to the end of the world 1. Chron. 28.20 Ier. 1.7 8. Iosh 1.9 And thus Dauid encouraged his Sonne Salomon Bee strong and of good courage and doe it feare not nor be dismayed for the Lord God euen my God will be with thee hee will not faile thee nor forsake thee vntill thou hast finished all the worke for the seruice of the house of the Lord. And the same promise belongeth to them that yeeld obedience to his Commandements for the worke is his and he will not faile nor forsake them that set their hearts and soules to seeke him and doe the thing that is good in his fight Whatsoeuer the Saints haue and may begge in prayer according to the will and pleasure of God they are allowed to belieue that they shall obtaine it and bee answered in their requests with fauourable acceptation so farre as shall be for their good and the glorie of God But the seruants of God haue and doe begge grace to bring forth fruits worthy repentance and amendement of life Psal 119.32 33 I will runne the race of thy Commandements when thou shalt inlarge mine heart Teach me the way of thy statutes O Lord and I shall keepe it vnto the end Make me to goe in the paths of thy Commandements Verse 35. for therein doe I delight Teach me thy way O Lord Psal 86.11 I will walke in thy truth vnite my heart to feare thy Name Lead mee in thy truth and teach mee Psal 25.5 Psal 17.5 for thou art the God of my saluation on theâ— doe I waite all the day Hold vp my goings in thy paths that my footstâ—ps slip not Psal 27.11 Teach â—e thy way O Lord and lead me in a plaine path because of mine enemies The faithfull haue bound themselues by couenant oath
delight This is a true saying The charter anciently giuen by that great Lord of all at our first conuersion touching the vse of his creatures was forfeited into the hands of the Doner by Adams fall But it is restored and renewed by Christ to them who aâ—e honoured with the Adoption The heires of heauen are the right inheritors of the earth The Sonnes of God by Adoption are Brethren and Coheires with Christ whom the Father hath appointed heire of all things Rom. 8.17 and hence ariseth vnto them the holy vse of â—he creatures Heb. 1.2 and ministerie of the Angells Are chastisements needfull or behooffull for them Iere. 46.28 Esay 54.8 Heb. 12.10 11. Ier. 24.5 Esay 27.9 Psal 89.31.32 1. Pet 4.14 Rom. 8.28 Acts of Faith that arise from the priuiledges of the godly He will correct them in measure for a moment fâ—r good to take away sinne but his louing kindnesse he will not take from them nor suffer his faithfulnesse to faile Are they loaded with reproaches for righteousnesse sake The Spirit of glorie and of God shall rest vpon them In a word whatsoeuer may happen All things shall worke together for the best vnto them And seeing God hath prepared and promised such excellent priuiledges vnto his children in this life hence it is that faith resteth vpon his grace to receiue from him whatsoeuer may be good and profitable for them O how great is the goodnesse which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee Psal 31.19 which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sonnes of men Verse 20. Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man thou shalt keepe them secretly in a pauilion Psal 36.7 from the strife of tongues How excellent is thy louing kindnesse O Lord therefore the children of men put their trust vnder the shadow of thy wings verse 8. They shall bee abundantly satisfied with the fulnesse of thy house and thou shalt make them drinke of the riuer of thy pleasures The Lord is my shepheard Psal 23.1 I shall not want He shall leade his flocke like a shepheard he shall gather the lambes with his arme Esay 40 11. and cary them in this bosome and shall gently lead those that are with young What can they want Psal 146.5 6 7 8 9. Leuit. 26.12 2. Cor. 6.16 Prou. 10.24 Esay 49.15 16. Deut. 14.2 who haue god to be their Father to prouide for them and protect them to blesse them and dwell with them to succour them and supply them with all needfull blessings spirituall and bodily in fittest season whose eare is open to their desires whose compassions exceed the tendernes of a mother to her sucking babe who hath chosen them to be his owne proper good which he loueth and keepeth in store for himselfe and for speciall vse Thou Israel art my seruant Iacob whom I haue chosen the seed of Abraham my friend Esay 41 8 9. Thou whom I haue taken from the ends of the earth and called thee from the chiefe men thereof and said vnto thee Thou art my seruant I haue chosen thâ—e and not cast thee away Feare thou not for I am with thee Verse 10. bee not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will vphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse Verse 17. When the poore and needie seeke water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will heare them I the Lord of Israel will not forsake them Verse 18. I will open riuers in the high places and fountaines in the midst of the valleyâ—s I will make the wildernesse a poole of water and the dry land springs of water Secondly It petitioneth instantly for succour For it seeth in God whatsoeuer it needeth or desireth and will neuer cease to seeke reliefe The more confident it is to obtaine the more importunate it will bee in suing Oile put to the fire causeth the flame to ascend and the promises of helpe and succour receiued by faith put life and vigour into the petitions of faith Heare O Lord Psal 27.7 8. Verse 9. when I cry with my voice haue mercy also vpon mee and answere me Hide not thy face farre from me put not thy seruant away in anger thou hast beene my helpe leaue me not neither forsake me O God of my saluation Vnto thee wiâ—l I cry Psal 28.1 2. O Lord my rocke be not silent to me lest if thou be silent to me I become like them that goe downe into the pit Heare the voice of my supplications when I cry vnto thee when I lift vp my hands towards thy holy Oracle With-hold not thou thy tender mercies from me O Lord Psal 40.11 let thy louing kindnesse and thy truth continually preserue me Thirdly It receiueth earthly blessings as gifts of the couenant and part of his childes portion God vouchsafeth outward things to wicked men of common bountie but to his children the blessings of this life bee tokens of his loue and speciall good-will and so receiued and embraced by faith For substance the gift is one both to the Iust and vniust but in respect of the cause possession and vse there is great difference which is discerned by faith though it cannot be seene with the eye Hosea 2.20 21 22. I will euen betroth thee vnto me in faithfulnesse and thou shalt know the Lord. And it shall come to passe in that day I will heare saith the Lord I will heare the Heauens and they shall heare the Earth and the Earth shall heare the Corne and the Wine and the Oile and they shall heare Iezreel Fourthly Faith in these and the foresaid promises doth greatly enlarge the heart towards God and stirreth vp to a serious and earnest studie of holinesse If a Christian be much in the meditation of Gods singular goodnesse towards him euery manner of way aboue all that he could possibly aske or thinke it will euen constraine him to yeeld vp himselfe wholy vnto God in all manner of godly conuersation Psal 26.2 3. Examine me O Lord and proue me try my reines and my heart For thy louing kindnesse is before mine eyes and I haue walked in thy truth Fiftly It doth inwardly quiet and cheere the heart in the midst of manifold outward discouragements troubles and persecutions in the world Hope of glorie in due time to be reuealed and of continuall supply of all good th ngs from God in the meane space to bee freely giuen will stâ—blish the heart with strong consolation and cause in outward pâ—ofession of Ioy to the glory of God the encouragement of other faithfull people and the amazement of the wicked Heb. 10.34 This is to bee seene in the liues and deaths of Gods faithfull seruants who tooke ioyfully the spoiling of their goods knowing in themselues that they had
towards Heauen keepe my standing or withstand the least assault In paine I am pettish vnder crosses faint heartlesse discontent readie to flie at the sound of persecution secure in prosperitie puffed vp with comforts apt to bee led away with worldly allurements My spirituall taste is distempered with carnall vanities which rellish sweeter to me then the mercies of God in Christ mine appetite to the Word and food of life is abated my zeale decayed mine affections dull to good my deuotion cooled my conscience benummed I heare but feed not vpon the Word my Prayers are cold heartlesse rouing in earthly imployments I keepe no moderation daily weaknesses and lesser sinnes goe downe without reluctation the motions of the spirit quickly die the motions of the flesh liue and get strength admonition is fruitlesse reproofe vnwelcome in my course I am ready to stumble at euery rub linger after euery baite laide by Satan or the world to catch mee and totter vpon the smallest tentation Euery day I haue greater experience of my weakenesse then other soone distempered and put out of frame if by any meanes for a little time my heart bee brought into some better order I am forgetfull of my purposes negligent of the opportunities to get good distracted with lawfull busines and wearie of the woâ—kes of my calling perplexed at the troubles I meete wâ—th giuing way to forwardnesse not looking vp to God vnthankefull for mercies trifling out the the time in foolish surmises vaine ploddings and vnprofitable speeches The poore leane thinne fruits of grace which through the mercie of God now and then I espie in my selfe these proclaime my sicke and feeble state my thoughts and meditations of good poore and few striuings agâ—inst sin weake appetite to the wholsome food of life small digestion slow obedience mâ—ruellous defectiue and in a manner liuelesse I liue vnder the powerfull meanes of grace enioy many helps in priuate am free from many great tentations wherewith others are exercised in respect of their outward condition blessed with the societie of them that feare God pruned and dressed by my heauenly Father and yet I reele wauer am tossed too and fro and ready to fall vpon euery occasion Ah wretched man that I am how shall I bee able to stand if the meanes should faile persecucutions bee raised or the powers of Hell let loose vpon mee Secondly He must stirre vp himselfe to rest vpon God through Iesus Christ for establishment and conformation Why should I feare by reason of mine infirmities or the malice of my spirituall enimies I am sicke but God is my physitian weake but God is my rocke my strength my high tower I like a lost sheepe am readie to goe astray but the Lord is my Sheepheard and will not suffer me to perish Christs intercession is euer effectuall but he hath prayed that my faith should not faile and promised that the gates of hell shall not preuaile The sons of Adam mortall by birth can neuer grow beyond the state of mortalitie the children of God borne of immortall seede can neuer fall from the state of immortalitie True faith is a neuer fading faith the life of grace an euerlasting life the water of life a well springing vnto eternall life Christ once died for sinne neuer to die any more and he that liueth in Christ shall liue for euer Indeed if faith were the worke of freewill or had dependance vpon it it might well perish but being the intire gift of God according to his purpose of grace it must needs pertake of the vnchangeable loue of God which is the fountaine whence it springeth I will walke iealous of my selfe because feeble and apt to offend but confident in Gods mercie and grace because he is faithfull who shall confirme mee vnto the end and perfect his worke hee hath begun My care shall be to feede vpon the word of life to shunne sinne and the occasions leading thereunto to cry for aide and strength and when I feele my selfe readie to sinke I will hang vpon the Lord for his power shall sustaine mee his right hand shall vphold mee and by his might I shall be keept through faith vnâ—o saluation A bruised reede shall he not breake and smoking flaxe shall hee not quench Math. 12.20 2. Cor. 12.9 till he sende forth iudgement into victorie his power shall be magnified in my weaknesse Thirdly He must pray instantly that God would vphold him and make him to see that hee will establish him vnto the end Our strength is of God and it is of him that wee know or be assured that through the power of his grace we shall stand firme and vnmoueable The state of a Belieuer is sure and it is impossible the elect should bee deceiued but as they stand by the grace of God so it is of God that they know their standing O Lord God of heauen the great and terrible God that keepeth couenant and mercy for them that rest vpon thy gratious promise and desire to yeelde vp themselues in obedience to thy Commaundements loooke mercifully vpon mee thy weake vnworthy seruant heale mine infirmities for they are many and stablish mee by thy free Spirit for I am brought very low Remember I beseech thee Ier. 32.39 40. the word of thy coâ—eâ—ant saying I will giue them one heart and one way that they may feare mee for euer for the good of them and of their children after them And I will make an euerlasting couenant with them that I will not turne away from them to doe them good but I will put my feare in their hearts that they shall not depart from mee Now I am thy poore creature the woâ—ke of thine hands whom thou hast made thy poore seruant with whom thou hast striken couenant vnto whom thou hast shewed this mercie that I desire to feare thy Name O Lord I beseech thee teach mee thy way make me to walke in thy truth vnite my heart to thy feare confirme strengthen stablish me vnto the end and make mee to know that by thy power I shall bee inabled to stand fast and vanish the enemies of my saluation that I may fight manfully obey cheerefully persist vndaunted and reioyce in thy saluation all the dayes of my life CHAP. VI. How to liue by faith in time of Temptation when Satan encounters and seekes to winnow the poore seruants of Christ NO sooner doth a Christian set himselfe vnfainedly to seeke the Lord 1. Pet. 5.8 but Satan with all his malice subteltie might and furie doth make out after him assaying by inward suggestions and outward tentations agaâ—ne and againe reiterated to discourage turne backe and vtterly ouer throw him The seruants of Christ are all souldiers and haue continuall warre not with flesh and bloud Eph. 6.11.12 but with principalities and powers and spirituall wickednesses This they must expect they haue sworne it and are called vnto of the Lord Encouragements to resist Satan who for